Sewing machine stands with electric switch box



Dec. 28, 1965 F. w. MOHNEY 3,225,174

SEWING MACHINE STANDS WITH ELECTRIC SWITCH BOX Filed Feb. 27, 1963 INVENTOR- Fig.2 Frank/in W Mohney WITNESS United States Patent 3,226,174 SEWING MACHINE STANDS WITH ELECTRIC SWITCH BOX Franklin W. Mohney, Anderson, S.C., assignor to The Singer Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 261,271 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-253) This invention relates to sewing machine stands and more particularly to an electric switch box which is designed to be used with and form part of a sewing machine stand, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electric switch box wherein at least one side of the switch box is formed by a portion of the sewing machine stand.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric switch box which is not only inexpensive to manufacture but which is also easy to install on a sewing machine stand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved electric switch box which is composed of a minimum of parts that can readily be produced.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby, will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with .a portion broken away, showing the electric switch box of the present invention mounted on and forming part of a sewing machine stand,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective View showing the various parts of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a reduced scale view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate one form of the present invention, wherein an electric switch box 16 is shown as mounted on and as forming part of a sewing machine stand 17. The stand 17, which may be constructed in a manner similar to the stand shown in U.S. patent application Serial No. 194,232 filed May 14, 1962, now U.S. Patent No. 3,184,207 includes, among other items, front and rear lower legs 18 and 19, respectively, and front and rear upper legs 21 and 22. The upper legs 21 and 22 are secured to the lower legs 18 and 19 by means of screws 23, and the upper ends of the legs 21 and 22 support a channel shaped top rail 24, which is formed with a top web 26 and depending side flanges 27 and 28. A table top 31 is held to the web 26 by means of bolts 32 and nuts 33.

The switch box 16, as best seen in FIG. 3, comprises a right hand, preferably metallic, part 36 and a left hand, preferably metallic, part 37. The right hand part 36 is formed with a vertical side panel 38, a horizontal bottom panel 39 and a sloping front panel 41. The side panel 38 is formed with a horizontal lug 42. The bottom panel 39 is formed with an integral upstanding flange 43 and the front panel 41 is formed with an integral upstanding flange 44. The left hand part 37 is in the form of a fiat panel 46 having a rectangular notch 47 formed in its upper edge. The front edge of the panel 46 is formed at an angle to conform to the slope of the front panel 41 and the back edge of the panel 46 is formed with a ice hooked flange 48, which, as best seen in FIG. 4, hooks around the rear edge of one flange of the upper leg 21. The front panel 41 is provided with a plurality of apertures designed to accommodate a switch 51, a pilot light 52 and a push button 53.

The part 36 is secured to the top rail 24 by a screw 54 which, after passing through an unthreaded hole 56 in the flange 28, is threaded into a hole 57 in the panel 38. The panel 46 is secured to the flange 43 by a screw 58 which, after passing through an unthreaded hole 59 in the panel 46, is threaded into a hole 61 in the flange 43. The rear portion of the switch box 16 is closed by the web of the upper leg 21 and the box 16 houses a metallic can shaped electrical component 62 as well as certain other elements of electrical switching equipment (not fully shown). The can-shaped component 62 is held in the box 16 by means of the upper leg 21 and the lug 42. The top of the switch box 16 is closed by the web 26 of the channel shaped top rail '24.

One way of assembling the switch box 16 and securing it to the top rail 24 is as follows. The various electrical components, including the switch 51, the light 52, the push butt-on 53, the can shaped component 62, etc. are attached to or placed on the part 36. Then, by use of the screw 58, the part 37 is secured to the part 36. Next the flange 48 is hooked around the rear edge of the upper leg 21 and the switch box 16 is raised until the upper portions of the panels 38 and 46 fit between the flanges 27 and 28. Then the screw 54 is passed through the hole 56 and into the hole 57.

The present invention is advantageous for the following reasons:

(a) The switch box 16 is of proper size so that its upper end is closed by the web 26, and the box 16 fits between the flanges 27 and 28.

(b) The switch box 16 is of proper size so that one end is closed by the web of channel shaped leg 21.

(c) The switch box 16 is easily secured in place by the single screw 547 (d) The switch box 16, when taken in combination with the channel shaped top rail 24 and leg member 21, forms a convenient and suitable means for mounting electrical components on a sewing machine stand, which switch box is composed of a minimum of parts that can be readily produced.

(e) The lug 42 and the leg member 21 provide an inexpensive and simple means for holding electrical components, such as the can shaped component 62, in the box 16.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. In combination a sewing machine stand having a channel shaped top rail formed with a top web and at least one depending flange; a first metallic switch box side panel having associated therewith a sloping front panel, a horizontal lug, a bottom panel, and at least one upstanding flange; a second metallic switch box side panel having associated therewith a hooked flange; means for securing said first metallic switch box side panel to said depending flange; and means for securing said second switch box side panel to said switch box bottom panel.

2. An electrical switch box adapted for mounting on a sewing machine stand having a leg member and a top rail member, said switch box comprising a first metallic switch box side panel having associated therewith a sloping front panel, a horizontal lug, a bottom panel, and at least one upstanding flange; means adapted for securing said first metallic switch box side panel to said rail member, a second metallic switch box side panel having associated therewith a hooked flange; means for securing said second metallic switch box side panel to said switch box bottom panel; and means adapted for securing said hooked flange to said leg member.

3. In combination a sewing machine stand having a metallic leg member, and a metallic top rail member supported by said metallic leg member; and a metallic switch box having an open side, a first metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, a second metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, means securing said first and second switch box parts to said members in such position that the open side of said, metallic switch box is closed by one of said members, and means securing said first switch box part to said second switch box part.

4. In combination a sewing machine stand having a metallic leg member, and a metallic top rail member supported by said metallic leg member; and a metallic switch box having an open side, a first metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, a second metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, a screw securing one of said switch box parts to said top rail member and a hook securing the other of said switch box parts to said leg member in such a position that the open side of said metallic switch box is closed by one of said members, and means securing said first switch box part to said second switch box part.

5. In combination a sewing machine stand having a metallic leg member, and a metallic top rail member supported by said metallic leg member; and a metallic switch box having an open side, a first metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, a flange formed on said first metallic part, a second metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, means securing said first and second switch box parts to said members in such position that the open side of said metallic switch box is closed by one of said members, and a screw securing said second metallic part to the flange of aid first metallic part.

6. In combination a sewing machine stand having a metallic leg member, and a metallic top rail member supported by said metallic leg member; and a metallic switch box having two open sides, a first metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, a second metallic part forming a portion of said switch box, means securing said first and second switch box parts to said members in such position that one open side of said metallic switch box is closed by said leg member and the other open side of said metallic switch box is closed by said rail member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,592,990 7/1926 Raquette et a1. 220-392 1,681,896 8/1928 Eames et al 112-2173 2,059,671 11/1936 Steenweg 220-394 X 2,192,170 3/1940 Adams 112-2173 2,609,262 9/1952 Godshall et a1 112-2173 2,734,990 2/ 1956 Leuschner 312-236 2,782,954 2/ 1957 Antonucci 220-392 3,063,770 11/1962 Hale et al 312-255 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

3. IN COMBINATION A SEWING MACHINE STAND HAVING A METALLIC LEG MEMBER, AND A METALLIC TOP RAIL MEMBER SUPPORTED B SAID METALLIC LEG MEMBER; AND A METALLIC SWITCH BOX HAVING AN OPEN SIDE, A FIRST METALLIC PART FORMING A PORTION OF SAID SWITCH BOX, A SECOND METALLIC PART FORMING A PORTION OF SAID SWITCH BOX, MEANS SECURING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SWITCH BOX PARTS AND SAID MEMBERS IN SUCH POSITION THAT THE OPEN SIDE OF SAID METALLIC SWITCH BOX IS CLOSED BY ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, AND MEANS SECURING SAID FIRST SWITCH BOX PART TO SAID SECOND SWITCH BOX PART. 